90 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, CA 90802 Call: (562) 436-1300. bostons.com  Open daily.

Long Beach, Calif.--18 gourmet pizzas, 11 gourmet pastas, late hours, sports on TV monitors, and a casual atmosphere are starters in making this chain restaurant a success story.

Boston's Gourmet Pizza opened in the Long Beach "Rainbow Harbor" area in restaurant row several years ago. Among the restaurants in the region near the Aquarium of the Pacific and Shoreline Village are Bubba Gump, P.F. Chang's Chinese Bistro, Mai Tai, The Yard House and Parker's Lighthouse.

The popular sports bar is an ideal choice among affordable to mid-priced eateries along the Long Beach harbor. 

Starters on the menu are varied but mostly filling type snacks such as Garlic Twist Bread, Potato Skins and Spinach & Artichoke Dip with creamy Alfredo sauce blended with spinach, artichoke hearts and a mix of cheeses, served with warm tortilla chips. Another interesting combo filled with flavor is the Boston Cheese Fries with queso, bacon, cheddar, mozzarella, jalapeno, served with sour cream and salsa. Interestingly, the menu includes crunchy, battered and fried green beans with dipping sauce which is also offered next door and is one of our favorite affordable snacks at P.F. Chang's.

There are also three sliders on the Start Menu--bacon burger, pulled pork sandwich and buffalo chicken on a mini-bun. As you can tell, it isn't difficult to fill up on the appetizers before the main course comes so pace yourself or stick around and watch a ball game with appetizers and brew like many do.

Salads become a meal when ordered as a Cobb, Greek, Santa Fe, Caesar or Steak & Bleu. Prices are around $9-12 , reasonable for a full meal.

Masterpiece pizzas are the extensive pizza options that come in individual, small, medium, large. They range in price from around $9 -25 with add-on options to extend the price. Just about every option you see on most pizza menus is offered here, as well.

Custom Pasta dishes allow you to mix & match your noodles and sauces, kind of a fun option for the picky or experimental eater. There's bow tie, lasagna, spaghetti & meatballs, mac & cheese, Jambalaya Fettuccine, and many more... most are around $10 and up.

Entrees include Baby Back Ribs, Sirloin Steak, several types of Chicken--Piccata or Parmesan, Salmon in Asian Glazed or Oven Roasted, Halibut & Chips, and optional sides such as Fries, Broccoli, etc.

Sandwiches, four types of hamburgers--Boston (original), Bacon Cheeseburger, Mushroom Swiss or Turkey--all come with french fries, and you can add a garden salad for a couple bucks more. Reuben Sandwich, Pulled Pork, Beef Dip, Cheesesteak, Tuna Melt, and  several types of chicken sandwiches or the classic BLT are generally around $9 and slightly higher. There are also tacos, and calzones.

A luncheon menu of several items takes the entrees and lightens the portions slightly, trimming off a few dollars in most cases. The lunch is offered Monday through Friday.

Desserts don't lack calories, sugar or pleasure.  Belgian Chocolate Ganache Cake, Hot Brandy Cream Pie, Cheesecake Wrap, New York Cheesecake, Chocolate Brownie Addiction, Apple Crisp, Bread Pudding Bites or Strawberry Cheesecake in a Cup, offer a sweet finish to any appetizer or meal.

Full cocktail bar, beer and wine list, plus the standard soft drink beverages are offered.